Texas Senate approves grants for bullet-resistant vests

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Senate has approved several law enforcement measures, including a $25 million program to provide officers with bullet-resistant vests. It also approved designating July 7 as an annual day of remembrance for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

The bills were prompted by the ambush-style slayings of five Dallas officers on July 7, 2016.

The grant program would provide pay for bullet-resistant vests for about 50,000 patrol officers statewide.

The Senate also voted Monday to approve homestead property tax exemptions for surviving family members of first-responders killed in the line of duty and to create the "Blue Alert System" to advise the public about suspects if police officer is wounded or killed.